My heart was racing while staring blankly outside. I jumped into my jeans, threw my sweater over my head, stuffed my PJs into my overnight bag, and grabbed my shoes, when I stopped and said to myself, “wait a minute, what are you doing?” What was I doing? Rushing home to spend a few extra minutes with my family, trying to beat the afternoon traffic on the 405 freeway? Was I attempting to squeeze 10 more minutes out of my day? Seriously, what was I doing?

Being where you are

Fortunately, this time I was conscious enough to pause.  I stopped myself, I said, “slow down, breathe.” I felt the air go in and out of my lungs, I felt my stomach expand and slowly my shoulders dropped.  I said… “look where you are right now.  Look around this beautiful room you are in.  Look at these striking decorations.”  I said to myself, “look out the window at that exquisite green golf course, and the deep redness in those bushes.”  I slowed myself down this afternoon, realizing that if I didn’t take the time to notice and appreciate where I was, how would I even know I was here?

Does it feel good?

As my husband says, “success is busy.” However, being busy does not mean rushing from one place to the next like a mad person.  I’d like to change that definition.  Rushing does not feel very good, most of the time. Personally, I think we’re addicted to rushing.  It signifies being productive.  It is possible to be busy, rushing, and unproductive.  Think about it. I once met up with a friend to attend her event.  I met her in the parking lot, where, to my surprise, she was applying her makeup.  I thought to myself, she is doing so well, and yet she does not seem relaxed rushing to apply rouge for her next thing.  I felt for her, wanting to make time for her to do what she needed in a quiet place.  Although I could not insist she slow down and make more time for herself, I did talk to her about it gently for the future. I told her she deserved as much of herself as she gave others.

Presence makes perfect

I think the point I’m trying to make here is the benefit of slowing down.  When we slow down, we appreciate, we breathe, we acknowledge, we feel, we see what’s in front of us, and we hear what’s being spoken more clearly.  Slowing down is the precursor to presence.  Presence is the practice of being where you are.  Even the in-between parts.  Presence means not thinking about the future or the past.  Presence is being where you are and relaxing into it.  The standard of practicing presence allows me to receive more of what I want, give graciously, and enjoy more of my life.  And isn’t that what we’re here for?

An appointment with myself

I want to take in as much as I can.  The more successful I get, the busier I become. And honestly, the more I need to slow down.  I know it’s the opposite of what you have learned, myself as well, but it’s a key to living Conscious and Carefree.  I want to learn better standards and boundaries around rushing.  If I need time for myself, then I will take it.  It may mean I don’t book myself so tightly.  It may mean I have to wait another day to book that meeting.  It may mean I need to say no to something or someone.  It’s no one else’s business knowing what I’m doing; sometimes I have an appointment with myself.  I want to be where I am in a relaxed manner.  I want to give my full attention to those who take their precious time to be with me.  And I want to give my precious attention to them.